Oregon State University is mourning the death of a student-athlete with Bay Area roots.
Fred Thompson died Wednesday night after collapsing at a campus rec center of what appeared to be a heart attack. He was immediately taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, but doctors could not save him.
Thompson grew up in Richmond and was a star athlete at Oakland Tech high school. He graduated in 2010.
He was at OSU on a football scholarship, but he died during a pick-up basketball game.
OSU said Thompson was a first team all-city selection as a senior at Oakland Tech high school in 2009. That year he had 90 tackles and seven sacks.
Department of Athletics’ officials said the entire OSU community sends its thoughts and prayers to Fred’s family. "The thoughts and prayers of Beaver Nation are with Fred's family," was posted on the school's athletic home page.
OSU head football coach Mike Riley was off-campus on a recruiting trip, but flew home to Corvallis when he learned of his players death.
Oregon State officials are expected to hold a press conference Thursday. Oregon State University has a student population of 24,000. It's located about 90 miles south of Portland in the city of Corvallis.
Fred Thompson would have turned 20-years-old this weekend.
